CALVIN Tagabuel has requested that the Superior Court modify his bail to an appearance bond and release him to a third-party custodian, his partner, Shanalyn William.
The court has set his bail at $250,000.
Tagabuel, 48, was accused of causing Lark Kasian’s death by delivering a single punch to Kasian’s face, rendering him unconscious and causing him to fall on the concrete floor at Cool Laundry in Kagman, where he struck the back of his head. Kasian was 44 years old.
Tagabuel’s jury trial began on Feb. 11, 2025. He claimed self-defense.
On March 10, 2025, a jury found him not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of the lesser charge of aggravated assault and battery, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
After the trial, Judge Joseph N. Camacho remanded Tagabuel to the custody of the Department of Corrections and scheduled a sentencing for June 18, 2025 at 10 a.m.
On Thursday, an application for bail modification was filed by Tagabuel’s court-appointed attorney, Joey McDoulett.
Citing his client’s right to bail, McDoulett said: “The nature of the offense has been reduced to aggravated and assault and battery by the Jury’s conviction. The Court now has heard the evidence of the true nature of what happened on January 6, 2024. While the prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Lark Kasian’s injuries could be attributed, at least to some degree, to Mr. Tagabuel’s conduct, there were unindicted individuals who may have also contributed to Mr. Kasian’s weakened state; allowing the injuries to be more severe than would normally have resulted from a single punch. The jury’s decision showed Mr. Tagabuel’s intent was not evil or depraved.”
The lawyer added, “The Court has yet to consider the factors that will determine the appropriate sentence for Mr. Tagabuel and the weight of the evidence for those factors. However, the evidence presented during trial weighs heavily in favor of a sentence closer to the time Mr. Tagabuel has already served in prison rather than the maximum statutory sentence.”
McDoulett said his client’s strong ties to the community “all weigh in favor for Tagabuel’s release.”
“Prior to his arrest,” the lawyer added, “Mr. Tagabuel was the sole financial provider for his family of five. The Court observed Mr. Tagabuel’s character and mental condition firsthand during his testimony. Despite the extreme stress he was subjected to, he responded to questions respectfully and thoughtfully. Finally, Mr. Tagabuel has no other criminal history.”
McDoulett said Tagabuel “has been extremely cooperative with law enforcement from the very beginning of the investigation into the death of Lark Kasian. Mr. Tagabuel voluntarily appeared at the offices of the investigative bureau and provided completely truthful testimony. As the evidence revealed during the trial, Mr. Tagabuel’s statements to the police were corroborated by many other witnesses, including the witnesses of the prosecution and the video evidence presented. This shows the respect Mr. Tagabuel has for the law and the Court. Mr. Tagabuel has demonstrated that he is not a flight risk.”
McDoulett said the proposed third party “is willing to take on the responsibility to ensure Mr. Tagabuel’s continued presence at court proceedings.”
A hearing on the bail modification request is scheduled for March 19, 2025 at 10 a.m.
